Has your business or a staff member earned an award, certification or been honored for an achievement?  Have you acquired a new enterprise? Is a special program or event coming up? If so, the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce wants to know. Send member news to East Peoria Chamber of Commerce, 111 W. Washington St., Suite 290, East Peoria, IL 61611, fax to 699-6220 or email to maureen@epcc.org

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Congratulations to everyone at Kuhl and Co. for being featured in a cover story in Rough Notes, a trade magazine, in its November 2009 issue.  The story detailed how the company, celebrating its 30th anniversary, has been able to grow new business in a soft market. Click here to read the November edition of Rough Notes and the full article. In addition, Kuhl & Company was the recipient 2009 Pinnancle Award presented by the Appex.  Appex is an insurance consulting organization consisting of approximately 140 independent insurance agencies throughout the United States.  The Pinnancle Award is given to the one agency with the highest PIN (Performance Indicator Number).  The PIN is a factor based off an agency’s ability to maximize their Profit, Operational, and Equity Perspectives. 

Junior Achievement of Central Illinois has received the non-profit organization's Peak Performance Team Award for the fourth consecutive year.  The annual award is given to Junior Achievement offices for outstanding performance in areas such as student growth, total revenue growth, and an increase in the number of classes reached during the past fiscal year.  There are 138 Junior Achievement offices in America, but only 12 Peak Performance Awards. 

The W. D. Boyce Council achieved Quality Council benchmark for 11 straight years!  The W. D. Boyce Council has had a tradition of excellence for many years and 2009 was no different as the Council once again achieved the Centennial Quality Council Award. This marks the 11th consecutive year the Council has earned this high honor. Out of 300 Councils nationwide, very few have a longer track record of excellence. The Council is now ranked #1 central region of the United States and ranked among the top 10 in the country.  To earn the Centennial Quality Council award, a Council must serve more Scouts and Units in its programs over the previous year. Recruit and train more volunteers, retain more youth in its programs and among other things, balance the budget for year.  The W. D. Boyce Council could not have achieved this high honor without the tireless dedication of its volunteers and community support. Scouting is accomplished within the Packs, Troops, Crews and Posts through thousands of volunteers.

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is pleased to announce its Thoracic Center ranked FIRST in the United States for risk-adjusted outcomes for major lung resections.  This designation is based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database for the 2009-09 reporting period. 

For the 12th consecutive year OSF HealthCare has been ranked in the top 100 IHNs among the nearly 600 integrated healthcare networks in the United States.  Specifically, OSF HealthCare was ranked 16th by SDI, a healthcare informatics joint venture firm, as reported in the January 25th issue of Modern Healthcare.  OSF is the highest ranked among all Illinois healthcare systems this time and the fifth-highest in the Midwest. 

Methodist Medical Center has achieved its annual Caregiver Safety Accreditation.  This coveted recognition is based on the implementation of a workplace safety training and accountability system.  Accreditation is certified by the Caregiver Safety Society, which annually audits member hospitals for compliance with its stringent safety standards.

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of surgeons has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at Methodist Medical Center. 

The Proctor Health Care Foundation and Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital was recently the recipient of a gracious contribution form the Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria, a Boyd Gaming property.  The $26,000 check was presented to Laura Schoon, Executive Director of the Proctor Health Care Foundation, and Rick Zehr, Vice President of Ancillary Services at Proctor, by Loren Gill, Vice President and General Manager, and Mary Jo Schettler, Director of Community Services, of the Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino.  The donation supports the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery "Don't Gamble Away Our Future," an addiction prevention program designed for adolescents. 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Barrack's Hospitality Group is proud to announce they will cater the dinner for Sarah Palin's appearance at Five Points in Washington on April 17th. 

JIM ASH DESIGNS has a new business phone number, (309) 642.8192.  Jim thanks everyone for their kind comments and words of encouragement toward his new endeavor.   

Methodist Medical Center is offering online access to Methodist Medical Group physicians.  Patients can now use "e-visits" for non-urgent medical consultations with their doctors.  By utilizing MyMethodist eHealth, patients can communicate directly with their physician and receive a reply within eight business hours. 

 

NEW STAFF AND PROMOTIONS

Heinwold-Banward, ltd., the largest locally owned accounting firm in Central Illinois, is pleased to announce the hiring of 3 new staff members.  Megan Ulbricht, Nick Vogel, and Molly Zehr have all recently joined the HB team.  Molly has started in the audit department and both Megan and Nick have started in the tax department. Congratulations Megan, Nick, and Molly!

Robert Morris University proudly welcomes the following adjunct faculty for their Winter quarter:  Abbigail Slape-Institute of Art & Design, Stephanie Van Doren - Institute of Art & Design, Shirley Morris - Division of Sciences and Humanities, and Gary Gerhold - Morris Graduate School of Management. 

The OSF System Laboratory Outreach Program at Saint Francis Medical Center is pleased to announce it has hired Nick King as Client marketing Representative.  He starts his new role February 8th. 

Methodist Medical Center has announced the addition of Steve Riney as Methodist vice President and Chief Information Officer.  Also added to the leadership team is Jeanette Murray, RN, BSN, MBA.  Murray assumes the role of director for Surgical Services. 

Methodist Medical Center has announced the January 2010 Employees of the Month.  The three selected were:  Judy Click, RN, selected for the category of Nursing.  Also selected was Lisa Bessler of Sparland for non-nursing support.  And for the category of Patient Care, Steve Goldring of Canton was selected.

Michael Childs of Boca Raton, Florida, has been named Administrative Director of Facilities Management at Proctor Hospital.  Prior to accepting the position at Proctor, Childs was Director of Facilities Management with Fifth Avenue Real Estate in Boca Raton.  He received his BS in Engineering from Memphis State University.  He is a Certified General Contractor and a member of both the American Society for Healthcare Engineering and the National fire Protection Association.  He resides in Peoria with his wife Diane.

Proctor Hospital is pleased to announce the association of Kathleen A. Bryant, RHIT, as Director of Medical Records.  Bryant comes to Proctor from Heritage Medical Center, Shelbyville, Tennessee, where she was Director of Health Information Management.  she received her BS in Health Information Administration from Dakota State University; Madison, South Dakota and her Certification in Health Care Management from the Indiana Hospital and Health Association.  She is a member of the American Health Information Management Association. 

Proctor Hospital is pleased to announce the association of Thomas Kouri, M.D., Board Certified, Internal Medicine; Timothy Lawless, M.D., Board Certified, Family Medicine and Ryan Schmidgall, M.D., Board Certified, Family Medicine as members of its Hospitalist Team.  Collective, they represent 47 years of experience in medicine.  Hospitalists are dedicated to the acute care of medical patients at Proctor.  They provide inpatient care to patients of primary care physicians and sub-specialists upon referral.  They are also available to care for patients presenting to the Emergency Department that do not have a primary care physician.

 

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Methodist Medical Center will be hosting a series of public American Red Cross blood drives during 2010. All blood drives will be held from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the hospital's Morron room on the first floor.  Blood drives will be conducted on: March 11th, May 6th, July 1st, September 9th, November 11th. For more information, contact Jeri Doran at 672-5775.

Methodist Medical Center announces the Mobile Mammography schedule for February.  Visit www.mymethodist.net for a listing of dates and locations or call 671-8282 for an appointment. 

Methodist Medical Center is hosting a free “Coffee with the Doctor” on Saturday February 27, 2010 in observance of National Heart Month. Tahir Ilahi, M.D. of the Methodist Medical Group Cardiology will be making a presentation on “Cholesterol and Your Heart”. Registered Dietician Hannah Lee will also be on hand to demonstrate heart healthy meal preparation.  “Coffee with the Doctor” will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Methodist Medical Group Cardiology Conference Room at 112 NE. Crescent Ave in Peoria. The event is free but space is limited. Reserve your seat by calling 671-5121.

The H1N1 flue vaccine is available at all Proctor First Care locations, at no cost.  The vaccine is available to all adults and children, ten years of age and older.  However, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  Visit www.proctorfirstcare.com for office locations and hours.

Proctor Hospital is offering discounted Coronary Health Risk Assessments during February in honor of American Heart Month when you wear red.  This venipuncture blood test includes:  glucose, total cholesterol, HDL & LDL, triglycerides, blood pressure, height & weight as well as an individualized twelve page heart health report.  All this for just $25 (a $30 value) through February when you wear red!  Visit them at the following sites:  Friday, February 5th - 2535 E. Washington Street (East Peoria); Friday, February 12th - 9118 N. Lindbergh Drive (Peoria) ; Friday, February 19th - 621 W. Jackson (Morton); Friday, February 26th - 1506 W. Garfield Avenue (Bartonville).  All screenings from 8 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  Call (309) 689-8334 for an appointment.